YOUH CONNECTIONS SUBJECTIVE WELLBEING ...

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YOUTH CONNECTIONS

SUBJECTIVE WELLBEING REPORT

PA RT A : TH E RE P O RT R E P O RT 4 . 0 April, 2013

Adrian Tomyn, Ph.D Discipline of Psychology, School of Health Sciences, RMIT University, Australia.

In association with the Australian Federal Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

Table of Contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................................. vii 1

Introduction..................................................................................................................... 1

2

Subjective wellbeing and domain happiness scores ....................................................... 9

3

Gender ..........................................................................................................................13

4

Age ................................................................................................................................18

5

Connection level ............................................................................................................28

6

Residency .....................................................................................................................33

7

Youth characteristics .....................................................................................................41

8

Barriers to progression ..................................................................................................44

9

Recent activities in the past month ................................................................................52

10 Happiness with School ..................................................................................................61 11 The subjective wellbeing of young Indigenous Australians ............................................66 12 The subjective wellbeing of humanitarian refugees........................................................81 13 Subjective wellbeing at follow up interview ....................................................................86 14 Outcomes achieved .......................................................................................................96 References .........................................................................................................................118

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Index of Figures Figure 2.1: Comparison between Youth Connections and Mainstream data .................................. 9 Figure 2.2: Distribution of young people in each PWI group compared to mainstream ................ 11 Figure 2.3: Mean PWI and domain happiness scores for normal and high-risk young people ...... 12 Figure 3.1: Mean PWI scores for females and males ...................................................................... 13 Figure 3.2: Distribution of females and males in each PWI group ................................................ 13 Figure 3.3: PWI and domain happiness scores for females and males .......................................... 14 Figure 3.4: Mean SWB for females and males compared to mainstream ...................................... 15 Figure 3.5: Distribution of YC and mainstream females in each PWI group ................................. 16 Figure 3.6: Distribution of YC and mainstream males in each PWI group .................................... 17 Figure 4.1: Age and subjective wellbeing for Youth Connections and mainstream ....................... 18 Figure 4.2: Age and PWI group distribution .................................................................................. 19 Figure 4.3: Mean scores for Standard of Living domain by age .................................................... 20 Figure 4.4: Mean scores for Health domain by age ........................................................................ 21 Figure 4.5: Mean scores for Achieving in Life domain by age ....................................................... 22 Figure 4.6: Mean scores for Relationships domain by age ............................................................ 23 Figure 4.7: Mean scores for Safety domain by age ........................................................................ 24 Figure 4.8: Mean scores for Community Connection domain by age ........................................... 25 Figure 4.9: Mean scores for Future Security domain by age ......................................................... 26 Figure 4.10: Age, gender and SWB .................................................................................................27 Figure 5.1: Mean PWI scores and Connection level ...................................................................... 29 Figure 5.2: Connection level and PWI groups .............................................................................. 29 Figure 5.3: Connection level, SWB and domain happiness scores ................................................. 30 Figure 5.4: Connection level, gender and SWB ............................................................................... 31 Figure 5.5: Connection level, age and SWB .................................................................................... 32 Figure 6.1: State of residence and SWB....................................................................................... 33 Figure 6.2: State of residence and PWI groups ............................................................................. 34 Figure 6.3: State of residence, gender and SWB ........................................................................... 35 Figure 6.4: State of residence, Connection level and SWB ............................................................ 36 Figure 6.5: Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA) and SWB ..................................37 Figure 6.6: Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA) and PWI groups ...................... 38 Figure 6.7: Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA) and PWI domains ................... 39 Youth Connections Subjective Wellbeing Report. Part A: Report 4.0. April 2013

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Figure 7.1: Youth characteristics and SWB..................................................................................... 41 Figure 7.2: Youth characteristics and SWB ................................................................................... 42 Figure 8.1: Family and living type barriers to progression and SWB ............................................ 44 Figure 8.2: The compounding effect of multiple family and living type barriers to progression on SWB ........................................................................................................................... 45 Figure 8.3: Physical and psychological health type barriers to progression and SWB ................. 46 Figure 8.4: Anti-social and behavioural type barriers to progression and SWB ............................47 Figure 8.5: Substance use and misuse type barriers to progression and SWB ............................. 48 Figure 8.6: Learning/academic type barriers to progression and SWB ........................................ 49 Figure 8.7: Barriers to progression not otherwise classified ......................................................... 50 Figure 9.1: Approximate number of days in the last month the young person attended school, education or training and their SWB .............................................................................. 52 Figure 9.2: Approximate number of days in the last month the young person attended school, education or training and their domain happiness scores ............................................. 53 Figure 9.3: Approximate number of days in last month the young person had contact with their family or caregiver and their SWB ......................................................................... 54 Figure 9.4: Approximate number of days in last month the young person had contact with their family or caregiver and their domain happiness scores..........................................55 Figure 9.5: Approximate number of days in last month the young person had contact with their friends and their SWB ............................................................................................ 56 Figure 9.6: Approximate number of days in last month the young person had contact with their friends and their domain happiness scores ............................................................ 57 Figure 9.7: Approximate number of days in last month the young person participated in an activity outside their home/regular residence and their SWB ....................................... 58 Figure 9.8: Approximate days in last month the young person participated in an activity outside their home/regular residence and their domain happiness scores ................... 59 Figure 9.9: PWI and domain profile for young people categorised into the 28-31 day group for all four recent events described compared to mainstream ............................................. 60 Figure 10.1: Happiness with School for Youth Connections and mainstream young people ......... 61 Figure 10.2: Happiness with School for females and males .......................................................... 62 Figure 10.3: Happiness with School and age ................................................................................. 62 Figure 10.4: Happiness with School for females and males in each age group ............................. 63 Figure 10.5: Connection level and happiness with School ............................................................ 64 Figure 10.6: Happiness with school for young people by residency .............................................. 64 Figure 10.7: Happiness with school according to the ARIA .......................................................... 65 Figure 11.1: SWB and domain happiness scores for Indigenous and non-Indigenous YC participants ..................................................................................................................... 66 Youth Connections Subjective Wellbeing Report. Part A: Report 4.0. April 2013

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Figure 11.2: Proportion of Indigenous and non-Indigenous youths in each PWI group................67 Figure 11.3: PWI and domain happiness scores for Indigenous and mainstream young people .. 68 Figure 11.4: SWB and domain happiness scores for Indigenous females and males .................... 69 Figure 11.5: Proportion of Indigenous Australian females and males by PWI group ................... 70 Figure 11.6: SWB amongst Indigenous young people in each age group ...................................... 70 Figure 11.7: Proportion of Indigenous young people in each PWI group by age ............................ 71 Figure 11.8: PWI, domain happiness scores and Connection level ................................................72 Figure 11.9: Proportion of Indigenous young people in each PWI group by Connection level ......73 Figure 11.10: State of residence and SWB.......................................................................................74 Figure 11.11: Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA) and SWB ................................74 Figure 11.12: SWB and domain happiness scores at initial and at follow up interview (Indigenous youths).........................................................................................................76 Figure 11.13: SWB and domain happiness scores at initial and at follow up interview: Indigenous females .......................................................................................................... 77 Figure 11.14: SWB and domain happiness scores at initial and at follow up interview: Indigenous males ............................................................................................................ 78 Figure 11.15: Happiness with school for young Indigenous people by residency ...........................79 Figure 11.16: Happiness with school according to the ARIA ......................................................... 80 Figure 12.1: Mean PWI and domain happiness scores for refugees and non-refugees .................. 81 Figure 12.2: Refugees and non-refugees according to PWI groups ............................................... 82 Figure 12.3: Mean PWI and domain happiness scores for refugees and mainstream .................. 82 Figure 12.4: Mean PWI and domain happiness scores for male and female refugees .................. 83 Figure 12.5: Female and male refugees in each PWI group .......................................................... 84 Figure 12.6: Mean SWB for refugees residing in each Australian state and capital territory ....... 84 Figure 13.1: SWB and domain happiness scores at initial (pre-program) and at follow up (post-program) interviews .............................................................................................. 86 Figure 13.2: Proportion of young people in each PWI group pre-post program ........................... 87 Figure 13.3: Post-program PWI groups for young people who scored between 0-50 preprogram .......................................................................................................................... 88 Figure 13.4: Post-program PWI groups for young people who scored between 51-69 preprogram .......................................................................................................................... 89 Figure 13.5: Post-program PWI groups for young people who scored in the normal 70+ group pre-program.................................................................................................................... 90 Figure 13.6: Female SWB and domain happiness scores at initial and at follow up interview ...... 91 Figure 13.7: Male SWB and domain happiness scores at initial and at follow up interview ......... 92

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Figure 13.8: Female and male post-program PWI scores compared to mainstream .................... 93 Figure 13.9: Pre and post-program mean PWI scores for young people in each age group .......... 94 Figure 13.10: Pre and post-program PWI scores for young people from various sub-groups within the Youth Connections sample ............................................................................ 95 Figure 14.1: Outcome achieved: School attendance improved ...................................................... 98 Figure 14.2: Outcome achieved: Educational performance improved .......................................... 99 Figure 14.3: Outcome achieved: Re-engaged with education...................................................... 100 Figure 14.4: Outcome achieved: Commenced education ............................................................. 101 Figure 14.5: Outcome achieved: Engaged with employment .......................................................102 Figure 14.6: Outcome achieved: Addressed inadequate family support ......................................103 Figure 14.7: Outcome achieved: Addressed mental health issues ................................................104 Figure 14.8: Outcome achieved: Addressed self-esteem issues.................................................... 105 Figure 14.9: Outcome achieved: Addressed bullying issues .........................................................106 Figure 14.10: Outcome achieved: Addressed socialisation issues ................................................ 107 Figure 14.11: Outcome achieved: Addressed disability ................................................................ 108 Figure 14.12: Outcome achieved: Addressed behavioural problems ............................................109 Figure 14.13: Outcome achieved: Engagement with education strengthened .............................. 110 Figure 14.14: Outcome achieved: Minimised negative experiences with education ..................... 111 Figure 14.15: Outcome achieved: Addressed anger management issues...................................... 112 Figure 14.16: Outcome achieved: Addressed low numeracy/literacy ........................................... 113 Figure 14.17: Outcome achieved: Addressed alcohol/drug use/misuse ....................................... 114 Figure 14.18: Outcome achieved: Addressed barriers created by financial distress .................... 115 Figure 14.19: Outcome achieved: Addressed learning difficulty .................................................. 116 Figure 14.20: Program outcomes associated with the highest increases in mean SWB............... 117

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Executive Summary Objective The broader project aim is to conduct a longitudinal study investigating the subjective wellbeing (SWB) of young people participating in the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relation’s (DEEWR) Youth Connections Program (YC Program). Youth Connections is a national program that provides flexible and personal support to help ‘at-risk’ young people across Australia engage with education and employment and make positive life choices. This research report represents an important undertaking by the Australian Federal Government, who has demonstrated their commitment to the independent, objective, evidence-based scientific evaluation of the YC Program from the perspective of personal wellbeing. The findings presented throughout this report concern the fourth wave of data collected between March 2011 and January 3, 2013. Subjective wellbeing and the Personal Wellbeing Index – School Children SWB can be defined as: “A normally positive state of mind that involves the whole life experience”. Also referred to as ‘personal wellbeing’ or ‘happiness’, SWB concerns people’s affective and cognitive evaluations of life satisfaction. Measuring and understanding the SWB construct is useful because it offers important insights into how people feel and think about themselves and their lives, independent of their objective circumstances. The Personal Wellbeing Index – School Children (PWI-SC) was created to facilitate valid measurement of SWB in adolescent populations. Respondents indicate their level of ‘happiness’ with seven life domains using an 11-point end defined scale (0 = Very Sad; 10 = Very Happy). The seven domains include: 1. Standard of Living 2. Health 3. Achieving in Life 4. Relationships 5. Safety 6. Community Connection 7. Future Security. Scores on these seven domains are averaged to form a single composite personal wellbeing score, represented on a standard 0-100 percentage point scale.

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The following guidelines for the interpretation of individual SWB scores measured using the PWI-SC are offered: 70+ points = ‘Normal’: A person is likely to be experiencing a normal level of wellbeing. 51-69 points = ‘Challenged’: Personal wellbeing is likely to be challenged/compromised.